Deep Throat was John Sears, according to a new book by Leonard Garment.

Sears was in his 30s during Watergate. He was a campaign worker for Richard Nixon who went to work in the White House, later becoming a Republican Party strategist, working for Ronald Reagan in his failed 1976 bid and then again in 1980.

The allegation by Garment is denied by Sears. It is also denied by Bob Woodward, the journalist who met with Deep Throat during the Watergate scandal.

Garment succeeded John Dean as the White House Counsel to President Richard Nixon.